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Topic Review (Newest First)

01-09-2013 04:06 AM

Wy Renegade

Just be careful to not use too many rocks, as the rocks will also wick the water.

01-09-2013 02:05 AM

Fishies_in_Philly

try removing some substrate, a couple inches or so, and add more and more until you see your water flow stop. that will do 2 things, confirm the diagnosis, and tell you what your height limit on substrate in that area is. you can always fill in the area surrounding the stream with rocks to cover up that cool habit trail. i really like that idea by the way and intend on stealing it for an upcoming build

01-08-2013 08:40 PM

schoolzoo

To fix it - should I cover it in silcon, to make a barrier between it and the soil?

01-08-2013 07:35 PM

Wy Renegade

Yep, I found when I covered mine in silicon and sand that it wicked water a considerable distance.

01-08-2013 06:36 PM

Fishies_in_Philly

The great stuff itself shouldn't. But if you cover it with any coco fiber, then the fiber will wick up the moisture.

01-08-2013 06:15 PM

schoolzoo

I wondered about that too I'm not sure where it is occuring, as I thought I had it all isolated. Do you think that the great stuff pond will wick?

01-08-2013 04:08 PM

Fishies_in_Philly

I was just thinking the same thing. Wicking can be a nightmare to deal with. Btw.....the tank look great school!!

01-08-2013 04:07 PM

Wy Renegade

Sounds like you might be dealing with a wicking issue - if some of the soil is coming in direct contact with the water in your stream, it acts as a conduit and wicks the water away into the soil. In other words, it may not be a leak issue, but rather an issue of needing to eliminate all contact. Wicking can be a real pain in the kester, especially in a paludarium.

01-08-2013 04:00 PM

schoolzoo

Thanks Wy.
I'm fairly pleased with how this turned out. I still have a bit of tuning to do - the water section holds the water, unitll I turn on the stream then the water does a vanishing act. I've pulled all the dirt out, added more silcon, ran the stream no issues - readded the dirt and the water once again vanished.
I think that I'll remove the dirt again, and try to add more silcon under and around the stream some time during exam week.

01-07-2013 05:37 PM

Wy Renegade

Looks good!

01-02-2013 09:14 PM

schoolzoo

Finished - for now. I think that I want to add a few more plants but that will come with time. The salamander seems "happy" to have more room to dig.

12-28-2012 04:26 AM

schoolzoo

I decided that instead of using the coco-husk/bark, that I'd use poplar bark. I thought that it would give a more natural to here look. The space in the "wet zone" behind the stream will get some kind of plant, but I'm undecided about what kind yet. I'm leaning towards either a simple moss or fern - both of which can be found around here - I'll just have to wait until April for the snow to be all gone so I can collect something.

I needed some way to hold the end of the stream up, and to close off the end, so the water goes where I want it to. It is also going to help hide the water line.
I'm concerned that once the salamander gets in there and digging then he will knock it over. I think that I'll have to attach the side of the upright to the side of the tank.
Do you think that great stuff white foam will be fine for the salamander, if I cover it with coco-bark?

Yes, I'm sure it will. You might also think about cutting the top off, and doing something like placing a rock on top of it or something.

I needed some way to hold the end of the stream up, and to close off the end, so the water goes where I want it to. It is also going to help hide the water line.
I'm concerned that once the salamander gets in there and digging then he will knock it over. I think that I'll have to attach the side of the upright to the side of the tank.
Do you think that great stuff white foam will be fine for the salamander, if I cover it with coco-bark?

12-23-2012 08:12 PM

Wy Renegade

whats the point of the upright again? If I were going to try and make it look like a tree stump, I would use GS, over expand it by quite a lot, and then carve it into the shape you want.

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